Griswold: 1.2 Million Colorado Votes Cast Ahead of Nov. 3 Midterms

Colorado voters have already cast 1,220,842 ballots as of the morning of Oct. 29, according to data from the Colorado Secretary of State’s office. With less than a week remaining until Election Day, the volume of early votes signals high participation levels for this year’s midterm election.

Secretary of State Jena Griswold, who is currently running for Attorney General, reported to Denver7 that early voter turnout reached 27% on Oct. 27. This figure exceeds the turnout rates recorded during the 2022 and 2018 midterm elections. However, the current pace remains well below the levels seen during the 2024 presidential election.

The state began sending the first mail ballots on Oct. 2, a start date earlier than in previous cycles. Ballot drop-off boxes were also installed earlier than usual. As of the latest data, more than 29% of the requested mail-in ballots have been returned. Griswold noted that this election season has differed from past years due to these procedural adjustments.

Demographic trends in early voting remain consistent with historical patterns. Women are voting at higher rates than men, and voters over the age of 40 are participating more frequently than those under 40. Robert Preuhs, a political science chair at MSU Denver, observed that younger voters are often taking more time to review ballot questions rather than deciding on candidates.

Preuhs stated that navigating the blue book can be daunting for first-time voters. He added that while younger voters are not necessarily still deciding on their choices, they are spending time figuring out the various ballot measures. He expressed confidence that these voters will eventually submit their ballots.

Unaffiliated voters have cast 40% of the early ballots logged so far, a higher share than either registered Democrats or registered Republicans. Griswold explained that this is typical for Colorado, where a large portion of the electorate is registered independently. She described the current numbers as evidence of general excitement and a surge in midterm voting.

Preuhs noted a larger gap between Democratic and Republican early voting this cycle compared to previous years. He attributed this difference to energy generated over the last year and a half, including participation in rallies and protests. He argued that voters on both sides are motivated by party identification and fear of the opposing party gaining or maintaining control.

Griswold cautioned that early turnout is not the strongest predictor of final election results. Instead, the volume of early votes helps determine how quickly results will be posted after polls close on Nov. 3. She explained that the more ballots processed before closing, the sooner results will be available. Coloradans can still return ballots to voter centers or drop boxes, or vote in person until Election Day.